The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-05
Correspondence.
LETTER FROM TEXAS.


To the Editor of The Untuersaltst::
A little affair has recently occurred in
our quiet city, that would have been
amusing as an exhibition of ignorance
and bigotry, we're it not that a great
wrong would have been perpetrated
against a worthy person, but for the in
tervention of the liberal Christian ele-
ment here. A number of our young peo-
pie had decided to patronize a dancing
master, who came here for the purpose of
organizing class. The Methodist and
Baptist brethren Immediately discovered
SHOOTS and Horns'
in the movement, and also birthstone
in the air for all who would deliberately
place themselves under such pernicious
influence. Nevertheless, as young peo-
pie are wont to be venturesome in certain
directions, the school was opened, pat
ronized by many of our best citizens, and
bade fair to be success. Straightway
walls of wrath were opened and poured
out freely, in the vain hope of quench-
ing the movement. The truth was, num-
bers of the young, who had been fright
ened into joining these churches during
seasons of revival, lobbying the natural
and proper desire of youth for pleasant
recreation, wanted to join the dancing
class. "No they must not commit such
a sinp Thus the word went out from the
brethren in authority.
In one Instance,
where young lady actually did attend
the school, she was waited upon by
minister, and through his exhortation, no
doubt backed by the terrors of the law,
was induced to give up the sinful pleas
ure. OF course the pleasures of sin" is
stock argument with these well-meaning
Christians. So the young girl was left
weeping at the Nervousness of her crime,
namely, of attending an afternoon class
of ladies, taught not only dancing, but
etiquette, by professor More than this
she solemnly promised that "if she could
be forgiven then she would never do so
any morew
In discourse to the young, under the
head Of amusements, we had previously
recommended
Dancing in Select Company,
and under proper restrictions as an inno-
cent, healthful and graceful recreation.
Coming from Universalist desk, where,
added to the sin Of advocating such wick
ed amusement, there was actually choir
with stringed instruments for musical
services every Sunday, these sentiments
were considered by the so-called orthodox
as simply dreadful
One well-meaning parson expressed
himself at Methodist meeting in this
way: "Will it pay-I say qCiU 1T pay to
have your sons fine dancing masters in
hell, or saints in heavenp The construc-
ton of the sentence is on par with
good share of the pulpit eloquenee of the
churches here. So the young sinners are
being prayed for, and the young saints in
the churches exhorted. The next move
among the anti-dancing party, was circu-
lating rumors against the moral charac-
ter of the teacher of this school. This
came near breaking up the class, besides
calumniating a worthy man. Fortunately
one OF our best citizens, a Universalist
brother whose daughters were members
of the school, took the matter in hand
and investigating, found the evil reports
utterly false.
Thus the matter has ended, and the
young people continue to learn deport-
ment and the graceful evolutions of the
dance. Now, this episode is but a trihe
compared with the bigotry and ignorance
that exists among the larger portion of
the partialistic sects here in Texas, as well
as in other Southern States.
In view of this fact, the question peril
nently suggests itself, is not the mission
airy needed right here in these benighted
portions of our own native land, fully as
much as in India, Japan, or Africa? In
fact, is not the religion of the Brahmin
and Buddhist in some respects superior,
far superior, to the cast-iron creeds of a
century ago, and still prevalent here?
MARY @. Billings.